A Quick One

[Sancho Panther]

What is the correct Spanish equivalent of the English "Inverted commas" used to indicate direct speech?

I have seen <texto> and -texto-; which is correct?

[chileno]

"Entre comillas" :)

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

I agree with Chileno. The "comillas" are the right equivalent.

...y entonces me dijo: "No creas que me vas a convencer".


In literature, when one is reading a dialog, there are also the "guiones largos":

—¿Quién está ahí? —preguntó Juan.
—Yo —respondió el fantasma.

[CrOtALiTo]

Yes I'm agree with Chileno's answer they are the double quotes used in Spanish.


Congratulation Chileno.

[Sancho Panther]

¿Entonces qué representa esto :-
«Texto»?

¡Sabeis que no estoy disputando - solo estoy curioso!

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

I was actually wondering too. :D

According to the DRAE (http://buscon.rae.es/draeI/SrvltConsulta?TIPO_BUS=3&LEMA=comillas), « » and " " are perfect equivalents. I think " " are more commonly used, but I've seen « » mostly used in printed works. :)

Comillas: Signo ortográfico (« » o '' '') que se pone al principio y al fin de las frases incluidas como citas o ejemplos en impresos o manuscritos, y también, a veces, al principio de todos los renglones que estas frases ocupan. Suele emplearse con el mismo oficio que el guion en los diálogos, en los índices y en otros escritos semejantes. También se emplea para poner de relieve una palabra o frase.

[chileno]

¿Entonces qué representa esto :-
«Texto»?

¡Sabeis que no estoy disputando - solo estoy curioso!
Sepan que no estoy discutiendo (,) - solo tengo curiosidad (porque soy curioso)

I usuallu place commas to replace dashes, in cases like the above example.

[Sancho Panther]

I think it was in 1968 that Harold Wilson's government abolished the teaching of English Grammar in schools. I was twenty four and cared about nothing much more than the hippest groves from the latest beat combos and meeting groovy chicks, (no, don't even ask!); however even I was appalled at that crass decision.

As a result few younger British people have any knowledge at all of grammar (even including graduates). So here are the rules for indicating speech:-

Direct speech requires double inverted commas at the beginning and end and a capital letter at the start; indirect (reported) speech requires single inverted commas and no capital letter: e.g.

Tracy said, "I told the garage manager, 'seventy pounds is too much for fitting a new number plate', but he wouldn't reduce it!"

Nothing to do with speech marks but a senior manager at a place where I used to work used to precede every final 's' with an apostrophe!

[poli]

What's a number plate? :thinking: Never mind, google helped. Over here we call them license plates?

[Sancho Panther]

Yep, number plate, license plate, matrícula - you choose!

It's been so long since I was in full time education that I'd forgotten, they're called QUOTATION MARKS!; and strictly speaking when hand written the opening ones should mimic '66' and the closing ones '99'. Of course computers can't do that so it's seldom in even handwriting these days. Since I had an excellent, if old-fashioned English-Language teacher, I've pretty well retained most of it.

[Sancho Panther]

Chileno,

Quote...I usually place commas to replace dashes, in cases like the above example. Whilst 'like' is not actually wrong 'such as' is much more literate; i.e. 'in cases such as the above example'.

Oh, by the way, my Spanish/English dictionary tells me 'disputar' is perfectly correct; or is that also an example not being incorrect but where the alternative is better?

[chileno]

Chileno,

Quote...I usually place commas to replace dashes, in cases like the above example. Whilst 'like' is not actually wrong 'such as' is much more literate; i.e. 'in cases such as the above example'.

Thanks for that. I also realize that it should have been written "In cases such as the above example, I usually place commas to replace the dashes"
:)

Oh, by the way, my Spanish/English dictionary tells me 'disputar' is perfectly correct; or is that also an example not being incorrect but where the alternative is better?

Correct.

Just that dispute in English and in Spanish means to argue, and generally it is a bitter/angry arguing.

Discutir = argue and disputar = dispute

EDIT: added been and "and in Spanish" (oops, especially when trying to sound intelligent) :rolleyes:

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

I agree that "discutir" would be more often heard, but I think "disputar" was fine, as Sancho wanted to make clear he was not intending to make a fight. ;)

@Sancho: some alternatives for "I'm curious" can be "tengo curiosidad" or "me da curiosidad". :rose: